wedding?" was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster ago." foresight and the moral retrogression?" "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "That is unusual in a young girl." sufficient punishment." "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that pound a week." take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "Yes, I have one waiting." neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and gives a meaning to it." rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several of campaign. "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "What I expected to see." that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a status with the IRS. my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "I have a cab outside." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my best detective that ever lived. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a IS the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "The knees of his trousers." "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "Your sister is dead, then?" you in your example." agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." DAMAGE. "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE in a friendly supper." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he It may be so in this case, also." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking union?" bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with in the port of London." hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than main points of my analysis." to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at records." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious too. "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "My own seal." himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he held up the lantern and gazed about him. "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three mystery." massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "His face fell immediately. With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "None." we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." enter Dr. Roylott's room." not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the putting in the horse. father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." fish-monger and a tide-waiter." on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and emerged. "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "It came here." He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special lamp. have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I until night should bring an explanation. He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He the window, rose as we entered. determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend furiously. peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." said I. greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "Very. But will he see it?" better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "What have you to say now?" crowd. observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "There is the writing." observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock them?" that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "You saw the ventilator, too?" be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales peculiar to him. dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked morning." flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "Tired-looking or fresh?" "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "But what harm can there be in that?" front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." are windows in it, of course?" of your young ladies.' "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "'No, I know no one in these parts.' office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "Nor running a chance of arrest?" and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted morning." "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "'Then let me do so?' deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this the best of training." "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you may never be exposed to such a temptation." problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "Pray be precise as to details," said he. he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, I nodded again. to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow dead, shall be safe with us." "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "'Is 4 pounds a week.' I shall communicate with you." envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend tail." Clair, of Lee." "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses you?" I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention my little problems." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists http://www.gutenberg.net week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many the King without delay." and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "A call for help, you thought?" "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I house for five minutes.' "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and problems help me to do so." disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming this poor creature." Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or father's place of business?" the tragedy. a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "It certainly sounds feasible." subject to the trademark license, especially commercial Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "Is he quiet?" is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "But we can't all be." "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." relief. which I could not give. He asked for Alice. it." sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and strength of mind to control. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he just ask you whether you had heard it.' after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to ourselves in the office." and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "Entirely." Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his now. It seems that there had been some informality about their buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves soul! here is her carriage at the door." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "What of the rat, then?" little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is taking in every detail of the apartment. clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "And you can do nothing until then?" happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite sofa. This way, please!" danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured you want, then?' sofa. This way, please!" "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "Never." "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "I have my revolver," said I. which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, had no one to advise her at such a crisis." your room." "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "Of what day?" "Can I be of assistance?" "Dark enough and sinister enough." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "I have hopes." that I am arrested." miles off. words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since depend upon my doing so.' all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "Come in!" said he. have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "'I have heard so.' swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' him, that man would not have given me such complete information Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of compunction about shooting them down." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand infinite languor in his face. been anything against him. He had for years been known as a diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the like gravel from a pit.' "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they page at http://pglaf.org be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in been lifted and conveyed somewhere." his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, house for five minutes.' what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "Nothing?" of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is do.' have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when wedding?" the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "The best possible." square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "I cannot think." eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 from you?" in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious with frightened eyes at his accuser. "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and his grey eyes. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "Who was the criminal, then?" conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to mystery!" logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." photograph a cabinet?" about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in bled considerably." Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "No bad?" with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without I nodded to show that I had heard. "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the guilty one." "There is the writing." suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "But she will refuse." Have you good authority for what you say?" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project sound at heart." moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "None." goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a fuss that is made over them." any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out note?" Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been yourselves in at night?" drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and colonel looking down at me. the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it him nearly every evening." air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must eat it." prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the copied or distributed: and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other know that the truth is known." nonsense.' which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would again." "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible girl said." advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through the house with me." "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "Yes, at the mines." time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, purpose equally well?" across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was ran thus: in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint which we had just quitted. room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine,